I knew that we’d have “group dynamics” and interpersonal tensions but I was also pretty sure we’d be able to communicate and sort things out.  I could tell that every member of our delegation is committed to a better world, though I wasn’t sure how much experience and inclination different people had toward truly functioning as a “team” with accountability and commitment as much to each other and our common goals, as to ourselves and our individual goals.  I knew that we have different habits and ways of communicating, thinking about time, process for engaging an intense experience.  I wasn’t sure how we would respect individual style and preferences while fostering group unity.

Our first day included everyone getting to the airport on time – and a smooth flight! Not a small achievement, given that some of us had to get up at 4am.  We then took the taxi (7 of us in one car) to Wayne State University.

Research Project Training #1: Learning about the US Social Forum, Detroit and the process of documenting what we observed

This was a wonderful introduction to this experience as the question of what the US Social Forum really ”is” was put on the table. Is it a space where 1000 flowers bloom – where we live-breathe and connect, breaking down “silos” or is it a space for movement building, recognizing the crisis we are living in now, and the way that informs what we do and how we do it?

We discussed the importance of this particular moment in time of history, and the urgency of building long-term relationships. The overall frame is opposition to neo-liberal capitalism but we live in a complex world. It was suggested that critiques of capitalism need to include an understanding race, sexuality, gender and other factors. Someone mentioned that if we think about the “longue durée”, the social forums (world, regional, national and local) represent the best shot the dispossessed have for coming together.  We who are part of academic communities need to be mindful of what roles we can and can’t play in relationship to people on the ground working for basic survival in their communities.  We need to be humble, respectful and great listeners as we conduct the research.

It is important to recognize that this work is not necessarily valued in the academy and that whatever we do is primarily important to be accountable to the communities and people who are struggling everyday for a better world.  Think about through whose eyes and ears one processes information, who gets to decide what things mean, how do we give back to Detroit?  Recognize what’s at stake – who is listened to, who has authority? Respect that we each hold within us some of the negative dynamics that shape a very hierarchal world and that we need to be humble and self reflective- what lens an I using – work in alliance with members of the communities we are observing.  How do we support their work, and not just observe it?  Recognize that being in academia brings with it the frame of being part of a global class position. We make the path by walking, respect the reality of the dynamics of coloniality evident in relationships and combat them in an ongoing manner.

The goals for the “People’s University of the USSF”, which coordinated the project to document and analyze what occurred, set out the following goals, in coordination with the National Planning Council:

• Expand collaborations between scholars, students and social movement organizers to generate knowledge that responds to the needs of social justice movements and that involves organizers in the analysis and dissemination of research;
• Decentralize knowledge-production by cultivating research skills among young people and other learners and by creating opportunities for youth and other movement activists to contribute to research on our movements;
• Expand popular access to knowledge through online courses, bibliographies, discussion materials, etc.

This was a great introduction to what we were about to experience…and emphasized the need for us to bring multiple sensitivities in the effort for fundamental social change.

It was interesting that someone said the main predictor for someone participating in a social movement is that they were asked to participate.

Detroit

The US Social Forum took place deliberately in Detroit as we have much to learn from their struggles – both from the loss of jobs, services and basic infrastructure over the last 30 years, but also the ways that people in Detroit have taken to heart that we can not wait for someone else to fix the problems and save us from destruction.  They have created a true Detroit City of Hope – with one example being the creation of urban farms to address the vast degree of food insecurity that is a reality for people in Detroit.

Labeled a “food desert”, one estimate is that almost half of the people of Detroit subsist on food from corner stores and gas stations as all grocery stores have left the city.  We, as a delegation, found this was a challenge for us personally as we ended up needing to purchase milk and cereal from the only store we could find – a CVS. One evening we had to search for a place to eat as everywhere we tried was closed – at 7pm.  Even the coffeeshop next to the convention center closed at 3pm.

Some of us visited the Detroit City of Hope on Thursday…reflections on that to follow.

Adelphi-St Johns delegations meet

This was a great beginning for the teams to get to know each other.  We talked about our experiences prior to the US Social Forum, and expectations for this week.  We then shared our most favorite ice cream flavor and did an exercise to build trust between us.  Paired in two’s with one having their eyes closed we chaperoned each other around the room.  Lots of laughter was a great way to end the evening!!

The THEME for Today was BUILD CONNECT GENERATE RELATIONSHIPS.

1) Have a safe trip

2) Have fun

3) Learn a LOT

4) Connect with people who want to create a more just and loving world

5) Build our individual and collective strength in that effort

6) Engage the question of “how things change as they remain the same” and the implications for multi-generational collaboration

7) Foster and support youth leadership

8) Learn about Detroit – both their challenges and their “City of Hope”

9) Build relationships all round with humility, respect and compassion.

10) Carry through on our collective goals:

COLLECTIVE GOALS

1) Listen: “To listen well, is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well, and is as essential to all true conversation.” –Proverb

All of our interactions: between us as a group to us participating in a multiplicity of interactions throughout The Forum and Detroit at large offer the unique opportunity to listen. Through this we gain an understanding of ourselves, the others within our Delegation, the other groups participating in The Forum, and the organizers of the USSF themselves which will enrich our experience and enhance what we bring back to our communities. The Forum itself represents a process built upon listening and acting, thus this is an integral goal for our delegation.

2) Open Communication/Accountability: “Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes real happiness. It is not obtained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.”–Helen Keller

The AU Delegation embodies the understanding that the USSF and it’s process are a worthy purpose. We also recognize that working together not only as the AU Delegation but as the AU Delegation in conjunction with other groups, schools, and individuals represents a more than worthy purpose. We can only begin to act and thus have a means to our ends if we endeavor to facilitate open communication and take accountability in all of our interactions.

3) Connect: “Every person, all the events of your life are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you.”-Richard Bach

By creating connections among ourselves as Delegation Members and with individuals in other schools, groups, etc we are creating and participating in local and national process. We are forging relationships that allow for the growth of ourselves, our schools, and our communities.

4) Bring Back/Share/Teach and Build!  “Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own.” – Nikos Kazantzakis

Through our participation in the USSF we recognize that we have an opportunity to be both the students and the teachers. We feel that it is our duty to “pass the torch” and spread word of and share the knowledge gained at the USSF throughout our communities. We feel it is of utmost importance to continue the Forum process within the realms we participate in. We are the bridges.

Let’s connect with folks in the area so we can work on projects together in the fall and beyond.

5) LEARN, LAUGH and HAVE LOTS OF FUN: “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter”–ee cummings

And we certainly don’t want to waste any day at the USSF! Laughter is really the best cure (and according to some, the best weapon) for when things become too overwhelming! We have a unique opportunity and we should enjoy every minute of it and the wonderful company that we have along the way!

We have been organizing and preparing, not only for our workshop, not only for our daily schedules but for our future and for ourselves. We evaluate our thoughts, our critiques and our surroundings. It is everything and more that schooling has recently given me.

We are challenged. We are tired. We are strong. The days here can get ugly but they have shone through with beauty in every aspect. The power, inspiration, and over all forum was representative of beautiful history – not only for our organizers and county but ourselves.

The blogging has been not something physically and/or mentally impossible for many of us – myself included. Our thoughts will be shared and our experiences will be taught, whether is it through the blogg or not doesn’t matter at this point and time. All that maters is that this kids gets some rest.

One thing that has impressed me are the dozens of people’s assemblies and group socials that have been organized. While some perceive the execution of the people’s assemblies portion to be flawed, the initiative and intentionality in setting such assemblies presents a consciousness, need and desire to ensure coalition building and networking amongst various individuals, groups and organizations. In that, I hope that these assemblies can lay groundwork and build relationship with others. This will allow organizations and groups to be stronger. I look forward to meeting various people and organizations and continue to grow and learn about how to make a bigger splash!

To some the march might have not been actually creating social change in a textual way (laws, policies, governmental protocols). But for myself, the USSF is not about the end result, it is about how we get there, and I think the march was the first step in never ending social struggle for justice, equality, freedom and much more.

All I can do is march, not only along to the beat of the bells, chants and drums  around me, but to the bliss and airy calmness that settled my soul.  My head was bobbing along some where in the middle from the utter sadness and despair that these organizations come from and the positive joy and song that radiates off the members of tens of thousands of people, gathering for a hopeful purpose.

Our Adelphi delegation all walked different paths at the march, but I am not only glad to be able to have my own experience to to have shared it with others. Our group dynamics are growing and we can only learn and benefit for each other. It is nice to set out ad create your own path my walking (or marching in this case) but it sure is nice to walk that path with someone else and share all there is.

Today, the Adelphi and St. John’s team accomplished so much.  We attended a march, the opening ceremony of the USSF, walked all over Detroit, attended a meeting for the research planning committee (which we are a part of), some of us volunteered, we went to dinner, spoke with locals about their perspective of Detroit, and so much more!  Of all the things we did, I most enjoyed the march and the marketplace–at least I call it “The Marketplace.”

The Marketplace is in a large convention room at Cobo Hall.  The room is set up with numerous tables, each table hosting different vendors, groups, and organizations.  Some people were selling fair trade goods, others were selling art or T-shirts or books, but many were just filled with organizations and individuals promoting their cause.  Some of the organizations that were represented were Amnesty International, Freepress, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, and so many more!  I received tons of information about everything from social entrepreneurship to health care to The Cuban 5.  I spoke with people and was able to network, receiving valuable information along the way.  People were so eager to speak with me, they wrote down websites I should go to, gave me pamphlets, business cards, even advice!  Overall, it was fantastic and I cannot wait to go back again tomorrow to hopefully meet more people and gather more valuable information but now it is time for sleep.

On a lighter note…there was an amazing band that playes and an even more amazing group of drummers that performed as we marched!!! And if you know anything about me, you know I lllooovvveee music…it was a new and interesting way of building camaraderie amongst the participants of the march!

The march will definitely be a high point whenever I look back at this week!